Chapter Fourteen: Ruth & Rosie
Nancy handed Steve a file and Clara looked over his shoulder to read along with him.
"Thanks to Nancy's newspaper minors, we are now rock-star psychology students at the University of Notre Dame," Robin told them.
"I'm Ruth," said Nancy.
"And I'm Rose," said Robin.
"Ruth?" Clara questioned, raising an eyebrow at Nancy. Nancy gave her a small smile.
"Nice GPA," said Dustin.
Nancy shrugged, "Thanks. So, we called Pennhurst Asylum, told them we'd like to speak with Creel for a thesis we're co-writing on paranoid schizophrenics."
"To which they said no," Robin cut in. "But we landed a three o'clock with the director."
"Now all we have to do is charm him and convince him to let us talk to Victor."
"Then maybe we can rid Max and Clara of this curse."
"About that," Steve said. He sat up straighter. "We've been doing our Victor Creel homework, and uh, we got some questions."
"Lots of questions," stressed Lucas.
"So do we," said Nancy. "Hopefully Victor has the answers."
"Wait… where's mine?" Steve asked. Nancy pursed her lips at him before motioning her head to the stairs. He jumped to his feet, hurrying after her as Robin and Clara followed.
"Stay here," Clara told the boys as they tried to follow. Lucas nodded quickly, but Dustin opened his mouth to argue.
"Not right now, Dustin. Please," she sighed. "Stay with Max."
"Fine," he grumbled.
She paused in the upstairs hallway, listening to Steve and Nancy argue.
"Nancy, you're outta your mind if you think I'm babysitting again."
"First, they're not babies anymore. And the girls are in real danger. They need people around them, especially Clara."
"I know. But why me?"
"Because you're her best friend!" Nancy snapped. "It's time you start acting like it Steve. You can't have a crush on her and not want to take care of her. It doesn't work like that."
Clara's ears burned at Nancy's words, and she could hear Steve sputtering for words.
"I do want to take care of her," he said. His voice was much quieter.
"Then do it," Nancy said. Clara took several steps backwards then took several loud steps forward to announce her presence.
When she entered the room, Nancy was digging through her closet, Steve was leaning non-chantant against the wall, and Robin was messing with a jewelry box.
"Hey," she said.
"What took you so long?" Robin asked.
"Just making sure the boys were okay," Clara shrugged.
"Right, well, Robin and I need to change. Get out Steve." He glared at Nancy and held out his hand to Clara.
"Coming?" he asked. She nodded quickly but didn't take his hand. He dropped it awkwardly to his side.
"Be careful," she told Robin and Nancy.
"Always," Nancy agreed.
"Liar," Clara muttered. Nancy just smiled in reply.
She almost fell asleep in the basement, curled up in an armchair. The boys were all sitting on the couch, pretending not to watch Max as she continued writing. Her voice caused Clara's eyes to shoot open.
"I know you guys are staring at me. How you think your eyes boring into the back of my head is protecting me from Vecna, I don't know." She walked over to them, the boys rushing to look away. She frowned at them. "You can look at me now."
"Thank you, sorry," said Dustin. The other two were quick to apologize as well.
Sighing, Max passed out brown envelopes. She handed one to Clara who instantly tucked it into the pocket of her jacket.
"Oh, and give these to Mike, El, and Will," Max said, handing Lucas three additional envelopes. "If you can ever get ahold of them again." Steve and Dustin began opening theirs and she practically yelled at them. "What are you doing? No! Don't! That's not for now. Don't open it now."
"I'm sorry," Dustin said, tucking it away. "What is it."
"It's… um… it's a failsafe. For after. If things don't work out."
"Max, things are gonna work out," Lucas said.
The red-head shook her head furiously.
"No! No, I don't need you to reassure me, and tell me it's all gonna work out. People have been telling me that my entire life and it's almost never true. It's never true. I mean, of course this asshole curses me. Should've seen that one coming." She took a deep breath, then picked up the walkie-talkie. "If we go to East Hawkins, will this reach Pennhurst?"
"Of course, yeah," replied Dustin.
Steve frowned, glancing at Clara momentarily before looking back to Max.
"Wait, why are we talking about East Hawkins." The kids all looked at him and he started shaking his head in understanding. "No. No. No!"
Max bolted and the others scrambled to their feet to follow her. Steve was right on her tail, arguing with her all the way to the car.
"Max, seriously. I'm not joking. I'm not driving you anywhere."
Max kept walking, "If you think I'm going to spend what is likely the last day of my life stuck in the armpit that is Mike Wheeler's basement, you're out of your mind. Either take me where I need to go or tie me down, which is technically, kidnapping of a minor. And if I live to see another day, Steve, I swear to God, I will prosecute."
She tried opening the car door, but it was locked. She frowned up at him.
"Open the door."
"Uh, no," Steve said.
"I know a good lawyer." Steve scoffed, shaking his head.
"Steve, can we go to East Hawkins?" Clara asked, walking up to him.
"What makes you think I'll take you?"
"Because I asked?" He let out a tense breath, then unlocked the car. Clara dashed to the other side of the car, grabbing the doorhandle before Dustin could.
"Henderson, that super walkie of yours better reach Pennhurst," Steve muttered as he started the car.
Just as Clara opened the passenger door, she heard the chiming of a clock. She looked off into the distance, seeing the being that consumed her waking and sleeping thoughts.
"Go away," she commanded. It disappeared in a cloud of red smoke. She double checked to make sure it was gone before she climbed into the car.
"You good?" Steve asked.
"Yeah," Clara nodded.
"Let's go!" Max urged. Steve grumbled, then pulled away from the Wheelers' home.
See you all in Episode 5!
All rights belong to the Duffer Brothers and Netflix!